FB: Southern Athletic Association

[tigerguy]

Trinity not getting points to end the half makes the game appear less lopsided as it actually has been. Trinity's D has been absolutely dominant.

[CruFrenzy]

Trinity not getting points to end the half makes the game appear less lopsided as it actually has been. Trinity's D has been absolutely dominant.

Yes they have.

[tigerguy]

Coming into today Hardin Simmons was #25 in the nation in rushing yards/game at 213.6/game. Trinity holding them to -3 yards bodes well for next week against North Central, who averages a monstrous 333. North central is obviously a different animal, but Trinity's defensive front and linebacker core is one of the few equipped to slow them down. However, I'm extremely disappointed in Trinity's continued string of sloppy penalties. To ensure they have any chance of coming out ahead next week, the penalties have to go - especially in the secondary. North Central's QB is too good to give him extra opportunities.

Enough downer though. Team looked fantastic overall.

Edit: I started game late and apparently missed that HSU was without one or two starters on their O-line. Lack of run game makes a taddd more sense now.

[Ralph Turner]

Congrats TU. As the Texas State Champion, best wishes in the playoffs.

[D3Navy]

Trinity looked very confident and very conservative today.  No big plays and really no attempts at big plays.  As Tigerguy mentioned above, penalties were a real problem - HSU had six first downs from penalties. 

Linebacker Caleb Harmel is a phenom.  I've never seen a player read the situation and react so quickly, and with power. 

Ryan Merrifield's 2nd TD catch was tremendous.  I have no idea how he was able to get under that ball. 

The last, and only, TD by HSU will be a good reminder for Trinity that the game isn't over until the end.

Coach Urban demonstrated great confidence in his team today.  He had the 2nd team D-line playing when HSU had the ball in their own territory.  TU took lots of time on their drives and ended up keeping the ball for fully 10 minutes more than HSU

Hat's off to the HSU fans who made the long trip down from Abilene.  They were loud and represented their team and school admirably.

It'll be a great game next week against NCC!

[tigerguy]

Hansen's ratings have Trinity as a (gulp) 25-point underdog to NC this week. Says it has nothing to do with Trinity being overrated (his model has them at #5 vs #6 in d3poll), but result of NC being simply best team his model has ever projected. Says NC would also be a two touchdown favorite vs Whitewater/Mount Union, which is also eye opening. NC has some bigggg boys.

[Ralph Turner]

Lazindex has NCC as 25 point favorite and Bornpowerindex (Winner of this year's ASC Pick'ems) has NCC a 27 point favorite.

[Ron Boerger]

SAA has announced its all-conference teams.

Offensive PotY:  Tucker Horn, QB, Trinity (3rd consecutive OPoTY)
Defensive PotY:  Caleb Harmel, LB, Trinity (2nd consecutive, 3rd First Team All-SCAC)
Special Teams PotY:  Tyler Huettel, K, Trinity
Newcomer of the Year:  Jacorin Thomas, QB, Sewanee
Coach of the Year:  Tony Kunczewski, Berry

Trinity placed 13 players on the All-SAA First Team, followed by Berry's 8.   Berry matched Trinity in total players selected to the first and second teams, both with 16. 

[tigerguy]

Trinity's Tucker Horn and Berry's Brandon Cade were both named finalists for the Gagliardi Trophy:

https://d3football.com/notables/2023/11/gagliardi-semifinalists-announced#google_vignette

[BSCpanthers]

Update on BSC, not necessarily new info, but info that hasn't been posted yet.  The Methodist Church has given BSC $2.5mil in a note payable(a loan) and Birmingham has proposed $5mil for BSC, they understand the need to keep the college alive in the neighborhood they are in.  I think the BHM city vote is still needed, but I believe that one will go through.  This is what is keeping BSC alive for the spring.  After that, they are still waiting on the state.  Unfortunately for that, we are in the same boat we were in last year at this time.  Waiting for the state legislation to go back into session to hopefully fix the wording in the bill that was supposed to give BSC a $30mil loan from the state.  That won't be for a couple more months. 

So we are still in limbo for 24/25 school year. 

[Ron Boerger]

Update on BSC, not necessarily new info, but info that hasn't been posted yet.  The Methodist Church has given BSC $2.5mil in a note payable(a loan) and Birmingham has proposed $5mil for BSC, they understand the need to keep the college alive in the neighborhood they are in.  I think the BHM city vote is still needed, but I believe that one will go through.  This is what is keeping BSC alive for the spring.  After that, they are still waiting on the state.  Unfortunately for that, we are in the same boat we were in last year at this time.  Waiting for the state legislation to go back into session to hopefully fix the wording in the bill that was supposed to give BSC a $30mil loan from the state.  That won't be for a couple more months. 

So we are still in limbo for 24/25 school year.

According to this AL.com story from Wednesday BSC Daniel Coleman told a City Council committee it's "better likely than not" that the college will open for the fall if the city provides the $5 million in loans.  A story from earlier this month stated that the school received another $2.5 million in commitments from two donorsand already has a  1800 applicants, a six-year high, for next school year. 

[BSCpanthers]

The big thing is getting those applications to turn into students.  As long as the school is questionable each year, those students aren't coming. 

[D3Navy]

A really tough loss for Trinity on Saturday. 

My bottom line: NCC's incredible offensive line enabled explosive penetrations quickly into the secondary and Trinity's DBs, already stretched, simply couldn't make effective stops.

Combine that with turnovers and the result is NCC dominating possession and the score.  Reduce the turnovers and the margin of defeat would have been respectable as Trinity demonstrated they could move the ball.

Having a very mobile QB was icing on the cake for NCC.

I don't see how any team can adequately prepare for NCC's O-line.  They should coast to the Stagg Bowl win.

Caleb Harmel finished his career in stunning fashion with 11 tackles and two sacks.  NCC's QB was visibly concerned early at being taken down hard twice.  He will be very tough to replace although the TU LB stable is strong, particularly TJ Scannell.

Much work to be done for next year but all said, it was a fantastic season for a team that demonstrates pure class.  Extremely proud to be a fan.

[Ron Boerger]

A really tough loss for Trinity on Saturday. 

My bottom line: NCC's incredible offensive line enabled explosive penetrations quickly into the secondary and Trinity's DBs, already stretched, simply couldn't make effective stops.

Combine that with turnovers and the result is NCC dominating possession and the score.  Reduce the turnovers and the margin of defeat would have been respectable as Trinity demonstrated they could move the ball.

Having a very mobile QB was icing on the cake for NCC.

I don't see how any team can adequately prepare for NCC's O-line.  They should coast to the Stagg Bowl win.

Caleb Harmel finished his career in stunning fashion with 11 tackles and two sacks.  NCC's QB was visibly concerned early at being taken down hard twice.  He will be very tough to replace although the TU LB stable is strong, particularly TJ Scannell.

Much work to be done for next year but all said, it was a fantastic season for a team that demonstrates pure class.  Extremely proud to be a fan.

One of their starting OL was listed at 6'7", 292. 

2024 is going to be a fascinating season as it will by far be Trinity's biggest reload in the Urban era, if not the D3 era overall.  Berry will probably be the pre-season favorite as a result.

[NCC2010]

A really tough loss for Trinity on Saturday. 

My bottom line: NCC's incredible offensive line enabled explosive penetrations quickly into the secondary and Trinity's DBs, already stretched, simply couldn't make effective stops.

Combine that with turnovers and the result is NCC dominating possession and the score.  Reduce the turnovers and the margin of defeat would have been respectable as Trinity demonstrated they could move the ball.

Having a very mobile QB was icing on the cake for NCC.

I don't see how any team can adequately prepare for NCC's O-line.  They should coast to the Stagg Bowl win.

Caleb Harmel finished his career in stunning fashion with 11 tackles and two sacks.  NCC's QB was visibly concerned early at being taken down hard twice.  He will be very tough to replace although the TU LB stable is strong, particularly TJ Scannell.

Much work to be done for next year but all said, it was a fantastic season for a team that demonstrates pure class.  Extremely proud to be a fan.

Harmel was/is a STUD.  easily the best defensive player i have seen against NCC in the past 2 seasons.  Was very impressed with Horn as well.